Sasha Cohen shines on comeback at US Nationals

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Posted: Friday 22nd January 2010 | 10:59

ONLY in women's figure skating can you feel past it at the grand old age of 25 but Sasha Cohen proved she could still jump and spin with the teenagers.

$ONLY in women’s figure skating can you feel past it at the grand old age of 25 but Sasha Cohen proved she could still jump and spin with the teenagers. After nearly four years on the sidelines, Cohen returned to competitive action at the US Figure Skating Championships with an attention-grabbing short program. She lies second ahead of tomorrow’s long program, just behind 16-year old Mirai Nagasu and fractions ahead of 17-year old Rachael Flatt. And with only the top two qualifying for next month’s Winter Olympics, Cohen - who won silver in Turin four years ago - is well-placed in her comeback bid for an upgrade. “I’ve got a decade on everybody here,” she joked, after scoring a solid 69.63, impressive considering she’s been the last four years skating in exhibitions and forging an acting career on US shows such as CSI:NY. "I was so happy just to be here, to be skating and competing and having overcome so many obstacle. “It was a really special night. I would love to go to another Olympics but, for me, it’s an accomplishment just to be here.” But don’t doubt Cohen’s competitive instincts. Dressed in a red dress and red gloves - she rolled back the years as she combined power with grace, her trademark spins as spellbinding and flawless as ever. Some, including reigning champion Alissa Czisny, had questioned whether she could get back into competition mode. They won’t be now with Czisny back in seventh after falling on her opening jump. However, Cohen’s long-time coach, John Hicks, admitted his surprise at how quickly his pupil got back into the s Cohen’s critics - and there are many - have long questioned her ability and motivation. They claim she is unable to skate two clean programs in a row and have sniped that her comeback is more about raising profile than a serious bid for a second Olympic medal in Vancouver. But Hicks has little time for such talk - claiming he has never since his charge work harder than she has in recent months. "It's an extremely good start but that's all it was,” he cautioned. “She might look like a petite china doll but Sasha is deceptive, she’s one very tough lady.”$
SHE'S BACK: Sasha Cohen enjoyed every second of her comeback at the US Figure Skating Championships as she inches closer to a third Olympics appearance (Getty Images)

After nearly four years on the sidelines, Cohen returned to competitive action at the US Figure Skating Championships with an attention-grabbing short program.

She lies second ahead of tomorrow's long program, just behind 16-year old Mirai Nagasu and fractions ahead of 17-year old Rachael Flatt.

And with two US spots available for next month's Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Cohen - who won silver in Turin four years ago - is well-placed in her comeback bid for an upgrade.

"I've got a decade on everybody here," she joked, after scoring a solid 69.63. Particularly impressive considering she's spent the last four years skating in exhibitions and forging an acting career on US shows such as CSI:NY.

"I was so happy just to be skating and competing, after overcoming so many obstacles.

"It was a really special night. I would love to go to another Olympics but, for me, it's an accomplishment just to be here."

But don't doubt Cohen's competitive instincts.

Dressed in a red dress and red gloves - she rolled back the years as she combined power with grace, her trademark spins, as spellbinding and flawless as ever.

Some, including reigning champion Alissa Czisny, had questioned whether she could get back into competition mode.

They won't be now with Czisny back in seventh after falling on her opening jump.

However, Cohen's long-time coach, John Nicks, admitted his surprise at how quickly his pupil got back into the swing of competition after so long away.

Cohen's critics - and there are many - have long questioned her ability and motivation.

They claim she is unable to skate two clean programs in a row and have sniped that her comeback is more about raising her celebrity profile than a serious bid for a second Olympic medal in Vancouver.

But Nicks has, unsurprisingly, little time for such talk - claiming he has never seen his charge work harder than she has in recent months.

"It's an extremely good start but don't get carried away - that's all it was," he cautioned.

"She might look like a petite china doll but Sasha is deceptive, she's one very tough lady."

Comments

There are at least two

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 17:30.

There are at least two errors in your article. Her coach is named John Nicks, with an N, not an H. Second, only the champion gets an automatic berth at the Olympics, although the USFSA generally sends the medallists to the Olympics and Worlds, it is not guaranteed, they also take into consideration the competitive results of the skaters in the previous year.

Actually, three errors -- she has already been to the Olympics twice before. This would be her third Olympics, not her second.

As for Sasha's critics, don't dismiss them so fast. One short program does not a comeback make, nor is it demonstrative evidence that she's competitively prepared for the Olympics. The long program will be much more of an indication of her fitness for Olympic level competition. There is a huge difference between a short program, with two triple jumps and 2 1/2 minutes, and a long program, at 4 minutes and with seven triples.

The long program, and her jump consistency, has always been Sasha's nemesis, and assuming the judging is fair (and she is actually penalized as she is supposed to be for taking off on the wrong edge for a jump) her critics are likely to be proved right come Saturday night. And if she still makes the team, at the Olympics as well.